Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Mississippi
The Mississippi lemon law for new cars, the rules for used cars, where to file a complaint, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Mississippi: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. The agreement must be in writing and state how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and the client's share. Contingent fees are banned for criminal defendants and for domestic relations fees contingent on a divorce or the amount of alimony, support or property settlement. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Mississippi Bar's Fee Dispute Resolution Committee offers free mediation or arbitration of fee disagreements between clients and lawyers (and between lawyers). It is voluntary: each side must separately agree, and the consent form must be returned within 15 days or the matter is closed. Mediation is non-binding unless the parties sign an agreement (enforceable in court); arbitration produces a decision binding on both sides. Fee disputes involving a rule violation go through the grievance process instead. |
Mississippi rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | Mississippi's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act covers motor vehicles sold in Mississippi for use on public roads, including demonstrators; motorcycles, mopeds, off-road vehicles, golf carts, low-speed vehicles and certain motor home parts are excluded. A reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed if, within the warranty term or one year from delivery (whichever ends earlier), the same defect was repaired three or more times and still exists, or the vehicle was out of service a total of 15 or more working days. The consumer must give the manufacturer written notice, and the manufacturer then has 10 working days after delivery to its repair facility to fix the problem. If it cannot, the consumer may choose a comparable replacement or a refund of the full purchase price plus collateral charges, minus 20 cents per mile driven. A lawsuit generally must be filed within one year after the warranty expires or 18 months after delivery, whichever is earlier (or within 90 days after an informal dispute panel's final action). A consumer who prevails may be awarded costs and attorney fees. Read on FindLaw's copy of the Mississippi Code (marked current as of January 1, 2025); Mississippi has no free official online code. Source: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-17-155, 63-17-159 (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code) |
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| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Written notice: before using the lemon law, the consumer (or a representative) must give the manufacturer written notice of the need to repair the defect so it has an opportunity to fix it. The manufacturer must list its zone or regional service office addresses in the owner's manual. 2) Final repair attempt: the manufacturer must immediately tell the consumer of a reasonably accessible repair facility, and then has 10 working days after the vehicle is delivered there to fix it. If the consumer then reports that the vehicle still is not fixed, the manufacturer must say whether it has an informal dispute program and give the consumer a copy of the lemon law (unless it already gave notice of the program). 3) Arbitration: Mississippi has no state-run lemon law arbitration program. If the manufacturer has an informal dispute program that fully complies with federal rules (16 C.F.R. Part 703), the refund/replacement remedy does not apply to a consumer who has not first used it; but if the manufacturer failed to tell the consumer about the program, that requirement does not apply. 4) Deadline: a lawsuit must be started within one year after the express warranty expires or within 18 months after original delivery, whichever is earlier; if the consumer used the manufacturer's program, within 90 days after the panel's final action. A consumer who finally prevails may be awarded costs and attorney's fees. Dispute program rule: https://codes.findlaw.com/ms/title-63-motor-vehicles-and-traffic-regulations/ms-code-sect-63-17-163/. The statute does not mention a fee for the manufacturer's program. Source: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 63-17-159(5)-(7), 63-17-163 (secondary source: public copy of the state code; check the official code) |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division takes complaints through an online consumer complaint form and offers help from consumer mediators. The office's general phone line is 601-359-3680. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Mississippi Bar does not run a lawyer referral service; its Consumer Assistance Program "does not maintain referral lists of Mississippi attorneys" and cannot recommend a specific attorney. The Bar offers an online Find a Lawyer directory of Mississippi attorneys (msbar.reliaguide.com) and a How to Select a Lawyer guide; the Consumer Assistance Program, (601) 948-2344, can suggest websites for locating an attorney. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Mississippi Bar's Office of General Counsel, at (601) 948-0568, can confirm a Mississippi lawyer's current status and whether the lawyer has received public discipline (public reprimand, suspension or disbarment). Other information cannot be released without the lawyer's signed release. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | To file a grievance against a Mississippi lawyer, first contact the Mississippi Bar's Consumer Assistance Program at (601) 948-2344 (weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or PO Box 2168, Jackson, MS 39225-2168. If warranted, CAP sends a grievance form to complete and return to the Bar's Office of General Counsel. Grievances generally must be filed within three years after discovering the misconduct, except those involving dishonesty or mishandling of funds. The Committee on Professional Responsibility meets four times a year and notifies you in writing within a month of its decision; outcomes include informal admonition, private or public reprimand, or a formal complaint to the Supreme Court. Complainants cannot appeal or withdraw a grievance. Public discipline can be confirmed by calling the Office of General Counsel at (601) 948-0568. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Mississippi's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Mississippi Center for Legal Services (43 counties in South Mississippi) and North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (39 counties in North Mississippi), both reachable at 1-800-498-1804; most programs require income below 125% of the federal poverty level. The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project (601-960-9577) offers volunteer attorney referrals and clinics, and Mission First Legal Aid Office (601-608-0056) serves Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Mississippi · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.